Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has announced that the state is targeting at least N86.6 billion in revenue within four months from cashew production.
The governor made this disclosure at the inauguration of the 2026 Cashew Season and the unveiling of the Kogi Cashew Procurement and Trade Policy, 2025, held at the Government House in Lokoja.
Governor Ododo explained that findings on the enormous value of cashew and its strong demand both locally and internationally indicate that Kogi State could generate about N86.6 billion between January and April, if the sector is properly harnessed.
According to him, the real economic value of cashew lies not merely in cultivation, but in processing, packaging, branding, and the development of a structured trade system.
“This is why our administration is firmly committed to the establishment of cashew processing facilities within Kogi State,” Ododo said.
“Processing is where value is created, jobs are multiplied, and prosperity is retained and shared.”
“As we officially flag off the 2026 cashew season today, we are planting five million cashew trees in anticipation of a bumper harvest.
“We are planting hope. We are planting prosperity. We are planting resilience. And we are planting the future of a stronger, more productive Kogi state.”
Governor Ododo called on stakeholders to work together to actualise the vision, stressing that the time has come to ensure Kogi’s natural resources work for the benefit of its people.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General of the Kogi State Commodity Exchange, Export Promotion and Market Development Agency (KOSCEPA), Victor Omofaiye, described the unveiling of the Kogi Cashew Procurement and Trade Policy, 2025 as a turning point in the history of the state.
He said the initiative reflects the determination of the Ododo administration to ensure that Kogi takes its rightful place among Nigeria’s leading cashew-producing states.
He noted that Nigeria currently ranks as the fourth largest cashew nut producer globally, with an annual output of about 450,000 metric tonnes and export earnings exceeding 700 million dollars, adding that Kogi State remains a major contributor to this performance.
